David Haye has predicted a ‘devastating’ performance from Anthony Joshua when he clashes with Oleksandr Usyk.
Unified heavyweight world champion, Joshua puts his WBA ’Super’, WBO and IBF titles on the line against mandatory challenger, Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25.
Former undisputed cruiserweight king, Usyk, 34, will attempt to emulate Haye by becoming just the third man in history to win a world title at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, with Evander Holyfield the first to do so.
However, the ‘Hayemaker’ believes Joshua, 31, has far more advantages going in his favour over the Ukranian and is anticipating a destructive display from his compatriot.
When asked how much trouble Usyk can cause ‘AJ’, Haye told IFLTV: “Not much I don’t think.
“I think if Anthony Joshua decides to have a tit for tat boxing match, just jabbing and trying to score points then he’d have some trouble, but he’s not stupid enough to do that.
“He’s just going to use his beautiful jab, use his height and reach advantage, his size and weight advantage and his punch power advantage, his physical, athletic advantage, the advantage of being able to receive punches from big heavyweights.
“He’s just better all round and it’s just going to be pretty devastating.
“I’ve seen it in my head. He’s going to hit him with a one-two, he might not even land a one-two but he’s going to come across with the left cross/jab and put him down or out, one or the two.”
The 40-year-old is preparing to make a shock return to the ring against unbeaten light heavyweight and long-time friend, Joe Fournier in an eight-round showdown on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya’s exhibition against Vitor Belfort at the Staples Center on September 11, live on Triller and available to watch on FITE TV pay-per-view in the UK.
Haye, who retired for the second time in 2018 after back-to-back losses to Tony Bellew, admits the fight came about after a debate between the pair over who would win in a fight, whilst on holiday in Mykonos.
The Londoner initially offered a spar in his gym, however Fournier insisted on a professional fight and the former two-weight world champion says he is being paid more for this clash than he received for his first outing against Bellew in March 2017.
“When I’m training for a fight everything gets puts on the back-burner,” Haye added.
“I’d only do that for good pay-per-view money and that was what he brought to the table.
“It’s crazy, it’s more than I got for Bellew one.
View this post on Instagram
“That’s what I’m saying it’s crazy dough so what I’m going to say to that, ‘no I’m not going to fight Joe for that.’
“What would people think if I didn’t fight him for that? They would think I’ve got something wrong with me, but I don’t I’m really healthy, I’m really good so I’ve just got to go through the motions, do what I do.”
